Oversight of Tax-Exempt Groups Like ACORN Examined

Washington (AP) - The Treasury Department's inspector general is looking into the government's oversight of tax-exempt organizations like ACORN when they engage in political activities.

The office of Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., disclosed the IG's decision on Thursday amid a controversy over videotapes of ACORN employees offering advice about how to establish a brothel with underage prostitutes.

Separately, ACORN employees and volunteers have been involved in a number of voter registration fraud cases. Many of the group's offices are in heavily Democratic inner city neighborhoods.

Issa and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine requested that the inspector general look into the Internal Revenue Service's handling of any political activities conducted by ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

Treasury Inspector General J. Russell George says his office is undertaking a review of the Internal Revenue Service's inquiries of tax-exempt organizations that engage in politics, as well as IRS procedures regarding fraud investigations of nonprofit organizations.

The Treasury Department's inspector general is looking into the government's oversight of tax-exempt organizations like ACORN when they engage in political activities.